Tympanic membrane rupture in the survivors of the July 7, 2005, London bombings.

Objective: The goal of this study was to analyze the prevalence of tympanic membrane rupture in the survivors of the London bombings of July 2005 and to assess whether tympanic membrane rupture provides a useful biomarker for underlying primary blast injuries.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Subjects And Methods: Survivors of the 4 blasts of London bombings on July 7, 2005. Data were gathered from medical records and the London's Metropolitan Police evidence documenting the injuries sustained by 143 survivors of the blasts. All patients with tympanic membrane rupture or primary blast injury were identified. Analysis was made of distance against prevalence of tympanic membrane rupture. Correlation between tympanic membrane rupture and other forms of primary blast injury was then assessed.

Results: Results from the 143 survivors showed a 48% prevalence of tympanic membrane rupture across all 4 sites. Fifty-one patients had isolated tympanic membrane rupture with no other primary blast injuries. Eleven patients had tympanic membrane rupture and other primary blast injuries, but only one of these was an initially concealed injury (blast lung).

Conclusions: Tympanic membrane rupture in survivors of the London bombings on July 7, 2005, had a high prevalence affecting half of patients across a range of distances from the blasts. Tympanic membrane did not act as an effective biomarker of underlying blast lung. In a mass casualty event, patients with isolated tympanic membrane rupture with normal observations and chest radiography can be monitored for a short period and safely discharged with arrangement for ear, nose, and throat follow-up.